Please Be Careful!!!

Avatar for ari_elle
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2003
Please Be Careful!!!
23
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 2:59am
Ladies (& Gents, too),

Please be extra careful while shopping. A terrible thing happened this weekend while I was shopping at our local Kohl's. I had been in the store for about an hour looking for shirts to buy for work and was getting ready to check out, and was in the jewelry dept. when I (and several shoppers around me) heard somebody screaming. First just screaming in general and then "somebody stop him!!!" I looked up just in time to see a blur of a person racing out the front doors. Apparently, a man had taken a knife and slashed the purse right off of a lady's arm and ran out with it. I assume he had a get away car, because he wasn't caught. The lady wasn't injured (not by the knife anyway) but she was so shaken up by what had happened. So PLEASE be extra careful. I was a bit upset having just come from the very part of the store where it had happened. And I am thinking he had to have been stalking around watching for an easy target. I, for one, will now be more aware of my surroundings, and not just in the parking lot. This happened in the middle of the afternoon!

Elle

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-28-2003
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 8:34am
God, no more laying my purse in the cart anymore (I know, how stupid am I.) Thank god she wasn't sliced by the knife or knocked down or something. So much for a relaxing hour of shopping, huh :/

- Yav

"What is an 'Oprah'?" - Teal'c, SG-1

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2004
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 9:39am

Thanks for the warning Elle!

 

  Shawna

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
Tue, 08-31-2004 - 11:52am
wOW! aND i WAS IN tARGET, lINEN'S N' tHINGS, hOME dEPOT (damn caps lock) yesterday...

To be honest, I'm not sure what is wrong with me, but had that happened to me, I would have ran him down and disembowled him with my car keys.

I have no fear, not sure what that is called, but it will get me shot one day...

I have never been attacked/mugged, but have averted one attempt....

I'm NUTZ.

AMy

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2003
Tue, 08-31-2004 - 12:03pm
I am the same way Amy. but I would have probably chased him down and pulled some rabid Pit Bull moves on him...I seem to be fearless when it comes to my money--but let a spider get on me...EEK! THAT is exactly the reason why I have a thick leather purse with a THICK strap that would take more than one slice to cut off of me. Plus, when I'm at the mall, I hold on to the main part of my purse at all times. I sound like I live in NYC not Hickville, TN. My mom is from near Ann Arbor,MI and instilled in me not to trust people in public places....especially if I'm in Arborland Mall while visiting my family in MI.

Sara

~Sayruhb02
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
Tue, 08-31-2004 - 12:47pm
I think I am the last female on earth who does not carry a purse. I never have. I have pockets (love cargo pants)and can slip my license, police i.d and credit card in my pocket. I would go Wu-Tang on someone if they messed with me. And you better have hoped i took my meds that day!

To All - to minimize the risk of being attacked/followed in public, here are some tips so you will minimze your chances of being a target:

Parking Areas:

1. ALWAYS know where you parked your car. At different malls, I p[ark in the same area at each one.

2. If it's dark, park as close as you can.

3. Back your car in.

4. Have your keys out, ready to unlock. Don't screw with them at the car.

5. Don't be loaded down with packages.

6. Look under your car as you approach, unless you are big pimpin' with a lo-profile ride.

Only a severe anorexic will fit under there, and you could probably waste him anyway.

7. Shop with a buddy.

In a Store/On the Street:

1. Keep your wits about you. Don't look lost.

2. Stay with your stuff.

3. Keep purse over your shoulder to keep it secure.

(but if someone grabs it, they can drag you)

4. Like #1, keep an eye on your surroundings.

5. Be vocal, say hello to the sales clerk. She made need to remember you later.

6. Make eye contact with people. Don't stare them down, but this will lessen your chance of being seen as a potential victim.

7. Walk with a purpose, pay attention, don't slouch.

8. Having an evil grin does wonders. So does talking to yourself.

*And as a dear friend once said to me about staying safe on the subway system in Boston, 'If you act crazier than everyone else on that train, they leave 'yo ass alone'.



Amy

Avatar for ari_elle
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2003
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 2:37am
Thanks for the great advice Amy. I hope we are all just that much more aware when we're out in public! Stay safe!!

Elle

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 4:51am
Also, beating the living snot out of someone WITH your purse is effective, and quite fun to do!

Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 4:19pm
bump

Kerstin

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Fear

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2004
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 5:44pm
They were talking today on Montel Williams about this guy who was being robbed at GUN POINT for his CELL PHONE! And the dude refused to give him the cell phone lol I would be like "Ok, here ya go!" and ran like dickens (what is a dickens btw?)
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 5:48pm

Very good question Shawna....would dickens in any way resemble a whompus???

Kerstin

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Fear

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